Closure for hopper dump opening



Feb. 8, 1955 w. G. HICKS CLOSURE FOR HOPPER DUMP OPENING I5 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed July 15, 1954 fllllllnlall' 11|... l *III I r||| ril IL ,TssLrll:

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Feb. 8, 1955 w. G. HICKS CLOSURE FOR HOPPER DUMP OPENING Filed July l5,1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 8, 1955 w. cs. HICKS cLosuRE Foa HoPPER numOPENING 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 15. 1954 INVENTOR.

MIZ@ 57e Gels BY /ZM Mf,

United States Patent Oiiice zfis Patented Feb. 8, 1955 The presentinvention relates generally to closures for hopper-type dump openings.The invention relates more particularly to closures for hopper-type'dumptruck bodies especially adapted for carrying hy ic cements, cementitiousmixtures, and other materials which are dicult to seal in and protectagainst moisture, etc. during transit and to such a closure embodying anovel closure actuating device which will facilitate temporaryattachment of discharge socks, boots or pi es for conducting andprotecting the hopper material uring discharge, and to prevent dus Imepast, buttertly-type closures have been employed on stationary hopperdischarge openings, because this type of valve may be made to fit anylarge-size discharge open ing and is substantially balanced under load.This type of valve or closure device, however, does not close tightlyenough to prevent loss of material-during transit, when such areinstalled on trucks, trailers, or other mobile forms of hoppers,conveying equipment, ctc,

It is a principal object of this invention, therefore, to provide anovel type of hopper closure embodying a butterfly-type of valve memberand a valve closing mechanism which will tightly and effectively closesuch openings during transit and which also will permit the temporaryattachment and tight sealing of discharge socks, boots or tubes aroundthe hopper discharge opening.

Another object of this invention is to provide a closure particularlyadapted for use on hopper-type trucks and other forms of mobile hopperequipment.

Still another object is to provide a hopper closure embodying anactuating device which is quickly and easily operated and which willalso function as an attaching device for discharge socks and the like.

Other objects and advantages of this invention -will be apparent or willbecome apparent in thefollowing detailed description of the inventionwhen taken in conjunction with tlie accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the closure device of this invention, theview being taken as a section horizontally through a lower hoppersection along the line l-l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the closure of this invention,the section being taken vertically along the line 2-2 of Fig. l; Y

Fig. 3 is a side view of the hopper closure of this invention, withportions broken away for greater clarity; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section of one comer of theclosure actuating device, the portion enlarged being indicated as brokenaway in Fig. 3, and showing in addition a discharge sock and its frameinserted and the valve member in a closed position.

The objects of this invention are achieved by providing a hopper closureembodying a butterfly-type valve member and a sealing cover which isurged into tight sealing contact therewith by means of an actuatingdevice cornprising a series of eccentric cams mounted on shafts locatedoutside the periphery of the valve gate or discharge opening; Theeccentric cams in this arrangement raise and lower a rigid lifting framefor raising and lowering a removable cover into and out of sealingengagement with a lower sealing lip or ring on the butterfly valve andwith an outer seal member outside the'discharge opening. The butterflyvalve incorporates features which temporarily hold it in place whilesaid eccentric-operated sealing frame is lowered for removal of thecover element and insertion of a discharge sock, boot or tube. Afterinsertion of the discharge boot, etc. the cams are operated to seal theboot around the opening and the butterfly valve is rotated to open itfor discharge through the boot. When discharge of the ho per iscomplete, the valve is closed, .the sock remove the cover replaced, andthe eccentric cam arrangement operated to raise the cover and force thecover tightly against the butterfly valve member and the outer sealerelement. The hopper is then sealed for its next load of material. Inthis arrangement, the combination of eccentric cams and the cover assurea uniform application of sealing pressure between the sealing frame andthe valve member and outer sealer element; it permits the etllcientsealing of openings of any practical size; it permits easy and smoothoperation of the closure device; it facilitates the use of dischargeboots, etc. and it provides a simple, positive acting closure devicerequiring little maintenance and repair over long periods of use. Italso protects the edges of the discharge opening from water that maysplash up from the road.`

In Figs. 1 to 3, the closure device of this invention is shown attachedto an oval tapered bottom hopper section 10 which in this case isactually located on the bottom of a hopper type truck body of the typeused for highway transit of bulk Portland cement. In this use, thecement is so ne it is diliicult to prevent seepage through the closuredevices now in use. At the same time, the cement and the dischargeopening must be protected against moisture in the air. The closuredevice of this invention eiciently performs both of these functions.When unloading such hopper type trucks, they are simply dumped throu abottom opening. When this is done, a considera le amount of dust isgenerated. A discharge sock or boot of cloth, etc. or a rigid conveyingtube sometimes is attached around the hopper opening to reduce the dustand direct the ow of material. The closure of this invention makes thetemporary insertion of discharge boots or socks a simple matter andpermits ready sealing around the point of attachment.

As shown in Figs. l and 2, a convex-shaped buttery type valve element l1is disposed in the opening, the valve having a ridge-like lower lip l2on its lower edge to act as a scaling element. The lip l2 pro'ectsslightly below the edge of the oval opening dened by the verticalportion 14 of hopper bottom Il) so as to be contacted by acompressiblesealing ring on the cover. At its longitudinal center, the valve member1l is attached to a pair of shafts l5, 15a which lit into sockets 16therein and are rigidly fastened thereto by a pin or other fasteningdevice 17. The shafts l5, 15a are extended outwardly through the hopperwall 10 and journalled in fixed bushings 18. The outer end of arm 15 iscurved upwardly to form a handle 19. The latter is rotated to eitherside to open the valve member 1l. In order to secure the valve member 11in the normally-closed position, the handle 19 is provided with asliding lock pin 20 and clevis 21, the pin 20 being inserted throughaligned holes in clevis 21 and in a bracket 22 welded to the hopperhousing 10. The pin 20 is easily removed for operation of the handle 19.

Around the bottom outer edges of the oval discharge opening, there iswelded or bolted an angle-shaped band or bracket 30. Around the loweredge of the latter is a resilient triangular shaped outer sealer element31 (see Fig. 4) of a thickness to compress slightly when undercompression and be ush with the lower edge of the linear hopper surface14 when so compressed. To the bracket 30, one at each corner of thehopper, there are attached outwardly-projecting plates 32 which serve asa support for two pairs of cam shaft bearings in each pair of which isjournalled one of a pair of camshafts 33. On each shaft 33 there islocated two eccentric clamping devices, each comprising an outer housing35, an inner eccentric cam 36 attached to shaft 33, and a vertical liftarm indicated generally in Fig. 3 by the numeral 37. As shown mostclearly in Fig. 2,l each of arms 37 eom prises a long nut 38 welded tothe underside of outer eccentric housing 35 and a bolt 39 having itsshank portion extending through a sleeve 40 which is welded to achannel-shaped side lift rail 42 and supports it in its up-and-downmovement. The head 4l of each bolt proiects below the channel 42 toprovide wrench access so that the length of the arm 37 can be adjusted.Each of the rails 42 is held against outward swinging movement gna pairof outer guide brackets 43 attached to the As shown in Figs. l and 3,the camshafts 33 have their right-hand ends bent upwardly to formhandles 44. When the latter are rotated outwardly, the shafts 33 andeccentric cams 36 rotate inside eccentric housings 35 causing the arms37 to lower the rails 42 in response to the rotary motion. When thehandles 44 are rotated to the upright position, the arms 37 are raisedagain. Attached to the top surface of each of the cam shafts 33 on theirright-hand ends (as viewed in Fig. l) is a rod-like stop bracket 45which travels around during rotation to make contact with suitablecircular depressions 46 cut away in the upper and lower positions in thetapered upper faces of plate-like brackets 32. Thus, the stop brackets45 limit the throw of the handles 44. In the closed position, the camshafts are in an over-center, self-locking position.

The clamping mechanism thus described comprises the side rails 42 andthe eccentric operated lifting arms 37 are designed to support and clampa closure cover to the hopper opening. The cover, as shown, comprises asheet 50 of metal or other strong rigid material. The metal sheet orplate 50 is attached to a tpair of angle iron slide members l whichslide on top o the side rails 42 when the latter are in the lowerposition. The cover carries a resilient sealing ring 48 of rubber orother suitable material which is shaped to seat against the bottom edgeof the hopper opening, the sealing r1ng3l and also the peripheral rib 12of the valve 1l. Scaling ring 48 is held in position by an adhesive andalso a plate 49 which is spot welded to sheet 50. When the side rails 42are raised, they cause the sealer ring 48 to effect a double seal, oneon the inside against lthe valve lip 12 and on the outside against thesealer element 3l. This not only prevents leakage but also preventsentry of material into the space between the valve and the cover.

The closure thus described is removed by rotating tbe cam shaft handles44 outwardly and downwardly to drop the side rails 42. When this isdone, the metal late 50 and its sealer element 48 may be withdrawn inthe manner of a sliding drawer.

The clamping mechanism just described is then employed to hold and clampa different type of cover means, in this case a discharge boot or sock,in place around the discharge opening. The latter situation isillustrated in Fig. 4 wherein a fabric sock 60 is attached to a framecomprising a anged body section 61 to which a pair of sliding rails 62,62 are welded. The bottom edge 63 of body section 61 is crimped to serveas a seat for a wire band 64 which is clamped around the top of thecrimped edge 63 and under a rolled top edge 65 of the sock 60. The bodysection 61 is of the same form in plan view as the discharge openingdefined by wall 14. The tlanged top edge 66 of the sock body 61 makescontact with the outer sealer element 31 to prevent dusting duringdischarge. In the same manner as with the cover 50, 5,1, etc., the sockbody 61 is slid into position on the lifting rails 42 and the handles 44rotated outwardly and upwardly to raise the former and force anges 66into sealing contact with sealer element 31. After this is done, thebutterfly valve 11 is rotated to said discharge the hopper contentsthrou the sock or boot 60. When discharge is com lete, e side rails 42,42 are lowered, the sock frame 1 removed, the cover plate S0 slid intoposition and the rails 42, 42 raised and locked into sealing position,as before.

What is claimed is:

l. A hopper having a dump opening within which is positioned a butteryvalve', a closuring mechanism for said opening comprising a pair ofparallel rails, means supporting said rails on either side of and belowsaid opening, a cover means for said opening adapted to be supported onsaid rails and slid into position below said opening on said rails, andmeans for raising said rails and holding them in raised positionclamping the cover against the opening.

2. ln a hopper having a dump opening within which is positioned abutterfly valve, a closuring mechanism for said opening comprising a airof parallel rails, means supporting said rails on ei er side of andbelow said opening, a cover for said opening having a discharge guidingdevice attachedtherebelow, said cover adapted to be supported on saidrails and slid into position below opening on said rails, and means forraising said rails and holding them in raised position clamping the saidcover against the opening.

3. In a hopper having a dump opening within which is positioned abuttcry valve, a closuring mechanism for said opening comprising a pairof parallel rails, means supporting said rails on either side of andbelow said opening, a cover for said opening adapted to be supported' onsaid rails and slid into position thereon below said opening, said coverhaving a resilient sealing meinber on an upper surface thereof andshaped to correspond to said opening, and eccentrically-operated meansfor raising said rails and holding them in raised position clamping thesaid cover, with its resilient sealing niember in contact with saidopening.

4. ln a hopper having means defining a duin ing and a butterfly valve insaid opening; an a ditional closure for said opening, supporting andclamping mechanism sitioned at opposite sides of said opening forsupporting said closure in position beneath said opening, said mechanismbeing operable to elevate said closure and clamp the same against saidmeans defining said dump opening, and cooperating means on the closurevalve, and on the means defining said dump opening to seal the closureagainst the periphery of the butterfly valve and against the meansdefining said dump opening, said cooperating means including resilientmaterial.

5. In a ho per having means dening a dump having a peripheral edge andwithin which is ositioned a butterliy valve, an additional closure forsai opening, said closure comprising a member on which is supported aresilient sealing material shaped to engage and seal against both theperiphery of said opening and the periphery of said butterfly valve whenthe valve is closed, and supporting and clamping mechanism forsupporting said member beneath said opening, said mechanism includingrotary cam elements and means for rotating said elements to elevate themember and thereby clamp the sealing ring against said peripheral edgeof the opening and the periphery of said buttery valve.

ning

No references cited.

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